Sliding drawer assembly



Aug. 21, 1962 F. HILLSON ETAL SLIDING DRAWER ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed March 16, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 16, 1960 0M WMZM 6 ZWQm d 2 2 Mi. A i I 1% Y a HI. H M

| I H I! JJ United rates Fatent 3,059,357 SLIDING DRAWER ASSEMBLY FrankHillson, 48 Brentwood Drive, Verona, N.J., and Rubin Krivisky, 4 ShermanDrive, Spring Valley, N.Y. Filed Mar. 16, 1960, Ser. No. 15,381 6Claims. (Cl. 312-332) Our invention relates to sliding drawer assembliesin general and in particular to a sliding drawer assembly in which boththe rearward and forward portions of the drawer are movably andadjustably supported, positioned, and guided. This application is acontinuation in part of our patent application for a sliding drawerassembly, filed in the United States Patent Ofiice in December 22, 1959,Serial Number 861,393, now abandoned.

Perhaps the most common sliding drawer assembly used today employs acentrally positioned, T-shaped or dove-tailed, overhead rail secured tothe cabinet frame, which is operatively engaged with a suitable supportmember secured to the rear wall of the drawer. However, drawers andcabinets employing such an assembly must be made to a very high degreeof precision with small tolerances in order that they function smoothlywithout jamming or otherwise sticking. Moreover, even if the drawer andcabinet are initially constructed with a high degree of precision, theyfrequently warp or otherwise change their shape and dimensions beyondthe allowable, fine tolerances thereby impeding their smooth,friction-free operation or rendering them totally inoperative. Inaddition, the central rail cannot provide the evenly balanced, firm,friction-free support provided by sliding or rotating supportspositioned on both sides of the drawer. Moreover, the various componentsof assemblies available today must be carefully pre-positioned beforethe drawer is inserted, thereby making dimensions even more critical andthe time of assembly excessively long.

We have found that it is desirable to employ generally parallel,channeled guide rails, secured to the cabinet frame on opposite sides ofthe drawer receptacle. A rotatable or slidable guide secured to an axlewhich is mounted on the rear wall of the drawer, is movably positionedwithin the channel in each guide rail. Thus the rear portion of thedrawer is continuously, both supported and guided at each side as itmoves inwardly or outwardly. Moreover, the axle is free to movelaterally within its support, and, therefore, will automaticallyaccommodate for even relatively large irregularities in the shape anddimensions of the drawer and cabinet frame. In addition, a laterallyadjustable, combination support and guide is movably secured to thefront end of the guide rails to both position and support the bottom ofthe drawer and to position and guide its sides automati cally as itmoves in and out of the frame. Thus, there is no need to carefullypreposition various components of the assembly.

However, the use of straight generally parallel, opposed guide railsrequires that the drawer be narrower than the frame opening by adistance approximately equal to the width of both of its guide rails andchannels; frequently on the order of one-half an inch. It isinconvenient and frequently uneconomical for a manufacturer to re-toolhis drawers, making them smaller to accommodate for such a mechanism.Moreover, in domestic assemblies, it is esthetically unpleasing to leavea relatively large opening between the drawer and the cabinet frame. Ourpresent invention provides the benefits of the channeled guide railassembly but, in addition, permits the use of a drawer having a widthsubstantially equal to the width of the cabinet opening.

Therefore, it is among the objects and advantages of our invention toprovide a sliding drawer assembly in ice which the rearward and forwardportions of the drawer are movably and adjustably supported, positioned,and guided.

It is another object of our invention to provide a sliding drawerassembly which may be employed in assemblies where the drawers have awidth substantially equal to the width of the cabinet opening.

Another object of our invention is to provide a sliding drawer assemblywhich may easily accommodate for irregularities in the shape anddimension of both drawer and cabinet frame.

It is a further object of our invention to provide a sliding drawerassembly which will guide the drawer on both sides.

Yet another object of our invention is to provide a sliding drawerassembly in which the forward portion of the drawer may be easily andquickly aligned by combination lateral and vertical support guides,which may automatically adjust to accommodate for specificirregularities in the shape and size of the drawer and cabinet frame.

Still another object of our invention is to provide a sliding drawerassembly in which the various components do not have to be preciselyprepositioned before the drawer is fitted to the cabinet.

It is a further object of our invention to provide a sliding drawerassembly in which the drawer may be easily removed from the cabinet.

Yet another object of our invention is to provide a sliding drawerassembly in which the drawer is supported at each of its corners byfriction-free members.

Yet another object of our invention is to provide a sliding drawerassembly in which the rearward portions of the drawer are supported by apair of friction free guides which automatically and continuouslyaccommodate to irregularities in the shape and size of the drawer orcabinet frame as the drawer is moved inwardly or outwardly.

Yet another object of our invention is to provide a sliding drawerassembly which may employ inexpensive and easily fabricated parts.

Still a further object of our invention is to provide a sliding drawerassembly which may employ parts having bearing surfaces fabricated ofinexpensive, synthetic materials, such as polyethylene or nylon.

These objects and advantages as well as other objects and advantages maybe achieved by our invention, one embodiment of which is shown in thedrawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a deformed, channeled guide railemployed in our sliding drawer assembly;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded top plan view showing the channeled guide railshown in FIGURE 1, secured to a cabinet frame, and an adjustable,support guide;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view showing the assembly comprising a pair ofopposed, channeled guide rails and a drawer having resilientlyadjustable guide members secured to its rear wall;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of a support member, axle and guide securedto the rear wall of the drawer;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of the rear support member, axle andguide shown in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is an end view of an adjustable support guide shown in FIGURE2;

ldIGURE 7 is a view in perspective of an alternate gui e;

VFIGURE 8 is a view in perspective of the assembly showing a pair ofgenerally opposed, channeled guide rails and the rear portion of adrawer having guides secured thereto.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, our invention comprises a pairof longitudinal, deformed, channeled guide rails 11, ll. The guide rails11, 11 are secured to the cabinet frame in any convenient manner. FIGURE3 shows the front portion 12, 12 of each guide rail 11, 11 secured to apair of vertical rails 13, 13 comprising part of acabinet frame, byscrews 14, 14. The rear portion 15, 15 of each of the guide rails 11, 11is flat and is bent inwardly at an angle of approximately 90 degreesparallel to a rear, horizontal cross-member 16 of the cabinet frames Therear portions 15, 15 of the channeled guide rail 11, 11 are secured tothe cross-member 16 by screws 17.

The guide rails 11, 1-1 are provided with a longitudinal channel 18. Thechannel 18 is formed integrally from the guide rail 11 and may beprovided with a downwardly projecting flange 19 and an upwardlyprojecting flange 20 as is shown in FIGURE 1 and FIGURE 8. However, thechannel may be merely U-shaped, dispensing with the upwardly anddownwardly projecting flanges 19, 20.

Each guide rail 11, 11 is gradually deformed outwardly in a verticalplane along its longitudinal axis at position 21 rearwardly of its frontportion 12, thereby defining an intermediate portion 23 diverging fromthe intermediate portion 23 of the opposing guide rail 11. Rearwardly ofthe intermediate portion 23, at position 22, the guide rail 11 is againgradually deformed in a vertical plane along its longitudinal axis butin the opposite direction to provide a side portion 24 which lies in aplane generally parallel to the plane of the front portion 12 butoutwardly displaced therefrom. The guide rails 11, 11 are mounted in thecabinet on opposing sides of the drawer receptacle with the respectivefront portions '12 and side portions 24 lying in mutually, generallyparallel planes. The flanges 19 and 20 of the guide rail 11 are deformedin the same manner to provide a channel 18 witha somewhat tortuous path.However, each deformation is sufliciently gradual to permitsubstantially frictionless passage of the guide 32 hereinafterdescribed.

A pair of rear support members 25, 25 are secured to the rear wall 26 ofthe drawer 27. The support members '25, 25 are located on both sides ofthe rear Wall 26, a

short distance intermediate its ends. The rear support members 25, 25may be secured to the rear wall 26 of the drawer 27 by means of screws28 which pass through flanges 29 on each support member 25 thereafterfastening into the rear wall 26.

Each rear support member 25, 25 is provided with a lateral bore 30. Anelongated axle 31 is positioned Within the bore 30. A guide 32 issecured to one end of the axle 31. The guide 32, may be a wheel as isshown in FIGURES 3, 4, and 8 or a block 33 as is shown in FIGURE 7. Theblock 33 is preferably provided with beveled edges 34 to insurerelatively friction-free movement. Each wheel guide 32 or block guide 33is movably positioned within the channel 18 in each guide rail 11.

The axle 31 is provided with a stop 35 near the guide 32. A coil spring36, coaxial with the axle 31 is secured between the stop 35 and thesupport member 25. The spring 36 normally urges the axle 31 and guide 32outwardly away from the drawer. The opposite end of the axle 31 isprovided with an annular flange 37 to prevent the axle from becomingdisengaged with the support 'membr 25.

Formed integrally with the channeled guide rails 11, 11 at the frontportion 12 are a pair of flat, horizontal, laterally disposed tines 38,38. A laterally adjustable support guide 39 is adjustably mounted on thetines, 38, 38. The supportguide39 is comprised of a vertical,longitudinal wall 40 and a horizontal, latitudinal wall 41,

ing surface. Formed integrally with the horizontal Wall 41 on its bottomis a vertical dividing wall 42, which is dimensioned to freely slide inthe opening 43 between the tines 38, 38. A horizontal base 44 'is formedintegrally 4 with the vertical dividing wall 42 at its bottom.. The base44 extends latitudinallybeyond the horizontal latitudinal Wall 41 and isprovided with a hole 45 to accom modate a screw or nail by which it maybe fastened to the cabinet frame.

In operation the channeled guide rails 11, 11 are secured to the cabinetframe in the manner shown in FIG- URES 2 and 3 with their respectivefront and side portions mutually, generally parallel. The guide railsshould be positioned in such a manner that the bottom edge of the rearwall 26 of the drawer 27 will be supported at approximately the level ofthe bottom edge of the cabinet opening. The rear support members 25, 25are secured to the rear wall 26 of the drawer 27 intermediate its sidewalls 46, 46. The rear support members are dimensioned and positionedsuch that the guide 32 may be resiliently positioned behind the rearwall 26 of the drawer 27 Within the confines of its width as defined byits side walls 46, 46. In order to insert the drawer into a cabinetframe the guides 32, 32 are forced inwardly against the urging of thespring 36 until they will fit Within the cabinet opening as defined bythe front portions 12, 12 of the channeled guide rails 11, 11, This maybe done by the forefinger of each hand as is shown in FIGURE 3. When theguides 32, 32 are positioned within the cabinet opening as de fined bythe front portions 12, 12 of the guide rails 11, 11 they may bereleased. The springs 36, 36 will normally urge the guides 32, 32outwardly against the guide rails 11, 11, The drawer may then be pushedrearwardly into the cabinet frame. As the drawer moves inwardly, thesprings 36, 36 will maintain the guides 32, 32 pressed tightly againstthe channeled guide rails 11, 11 as they bend outwardly at point 21, 21,In such a manner the guides 32 will be caused to follow or track theguide rails 11, 11. As the drawer moves further inwardly the guides 32,32 will easily pass into the channels 18, 18 on the guide rails 11,11,remaining in the channels as the drawer 27 moves to its innermostposition. Similarly, as the drawer is withdrawn outwardly, the guides32, 32 remain in the channels 18, 18 on the guide rails 11, 11. At point22 the guide rails will be forced inwardly against the normal urging ofthe springs 36, 36 as the drawer is withdrawn from the receptaclethereby remaining positioned within the channel 18, 18. The guides 32,32, will continue to press against and track the guide rails 11, 11until the drawer is removed from the cabinet. As the drawer comes freeof the cabinet, the springs 36, 36 will urge the guides 32, 32 to theiroutermost position. However, the annular flange 37 on the axle 31 willprevent the guides and axle from becoming detached altogether from thesupport members 25, 25. It should be noted that the channel 18 on theguide rails 11, 11 should begin at a point far enough rearwardly of thefront portion 12, 12 so as not to impinge against the side walls 46,46of the drawer 27 as it moves straight inwardly as defined by brokenlines AA' in FIGURE 3. Thus, the side portions 24, 24 of the guide rails11, 11 must be outwardly disposed from the front portions 12, 12 adistance equal to at least the width of the channeled guide rails 11,11. The side walls 46, 46 of the drawer 27 will thereby follow lines AAAA shown in FIGURE 3 without touching the guide rail 11, 11. In thismanner the width of the cabinet opening is reduced by merely thethickness of the metal from which the guide rails 11, 11 are fabricated.Frequently less than 5 of an inch.

The adjustable support guides 39, 33 are mounted upon the tines 33, 38with the dividing wall 42 freely positioned within the opening 43. Theadjustable support guides 39, 39 are thus laterally movable butlongitudinally immovable. As the drawer 27 is inserted into the cabinetframe the support guides 39, 39 are pressed against the side walls 46,46 of the drawer 27. As the drawer 27 is pushed inwardly into thecabinet frame, theadjustable sup port guides 39, 39 automatically moveoutwardly to accommodate for irregularities in the shape of the drawer.

When the drawer is at its innermost position the support guides 39, 39are properly positioned. The drawer may then be withdrawn and thesupport guides 39, 39 secured in position by nails which pass throughthe hole 45, 45 and into the cabinet frame. Thus, the forward end of thedrawer may be quickly and easily aligned automatically in one simpleoperation without the necessity of precisely constructing both thedrawer and cabinet to exacting dimensions and of pre-positioning guideelements in precisely measured positions before the drawer is insertedinto the cabinet. Thus, this sliding drawer assembly may accommodate forirregularities in both the size and shape of the particular drawer andcabinet frame which would cause other drawer constructions to bind.

The various components of the drawer assembly may be fabricated of anyconvenient material. However, it is convenient to fabricate the guiderails 11, ll of some light metal whereas the other components may befabricated of some synthetic material such as nylon or polyethylene.However, the guide rails may also be fabricated of such synthetics. Thisis particularly true of the bearing surfaces of the support guide 39, 39and the guide 32 or 33. Nylon is particularly well suited since itprovides noiseless, virtually friction-free operation and extremedurability and resistance to grooving or wear. Similarly the axle 31 andthe support member 25 may be fabricated of a synthetic such as nylon orpolyethylene.

The foregoing description is merely intended to illustrate an embodimentof the invention. The component parts have been shown and described.They each may have substitutes which may perform a substantially similarfunction; such substitutes may be known as proper substitutes for thesaid components and may have actually been known or invented before thepresent invention; these substitutes are contemplated as being withinthe scope of the appended claims, although they are not specificallycatalogued herein.

We claim:

1. A sliding drawer assembly comprising a pair of opposed guide railssecured to a cabinet frame each having a longitudinal channel, a frontportion on each guide rail, an integral intermediate portion on theguide rail rearwardly of the front portion and lying in a planediverging from the plane of the intermediate portion of the oppositeguide rail, an integral side portion on the guide rail rearwardly of theintermediate portion and lying in the plane generally parallel to theplane of the front portion, a guide adapted to be movably positionedwithin each channel, means for securing the guides to the drawer and,resilient means normally urging the guides outwardly against the guiderails.

2. A sliding drawer assembly comprising a pair of opposed guide railssecured to a cabinet frame each having a longitudinal channel, a frontportion on each guide rail generally parallel to the front portion ofthe opposite guide rail, an integral intermediate portion on each guiderail rearwardly of the front portion and lying in a plane diverging fromthe plane of the intermediate portion of the opposite guide rail, anintegral side portion on each guide rail rearwardly of the intermediateportion and lying in a plane generally parallel to the plane of thefront portion each side portion being disposed outwardly from therespective front portion a distance at least equal to the width of theguide rail and channel, a guide adapted to be movably positioned withineach channel, means for securing the guides to the drawer, and resilientmeans normally urging the guides outwardly against the guide rails.

3. A sliding drawer assembly comprising a pair of opposed guide railssecured to a cabinet frame each having a longitudinal channel, a frontportion on each guide rail generally parallel to the front portion ofthe opposite guide rail, an integral intermediate portion on each guiderail rearwardly of the front portion and lying in a plane diverging fromthe plane of the intermediate portion of the opposite guide rail, anintegral side portion on each guide rail rearwardly of the intermediateportion and lying in a plane generally parallel to the plane of thefront portion, a guide adapted to be movably positioned within eachguide rail secured to the rear of a drawer, each of said guides beinglaterally and resiliently movable to a position behind the drawer andWithin the confines of its width, means for securing the guides to thedrawer, resilient means normally urging the guides outwardly against theguide rails.

4. A sliding drawer assembly comprising a pair of opposed guide railssecured to a cabinet frame each having a longitudinal channel, a frontportion on each guide rail generally parallel to the front portion ofthe opposite guide rail, an integral intermediate portion on each guiderail rearwardly of the front portion and lying in a plane diverging fromthe plane of the intermediate portion of the opposite guide rail, anintegral side portion on each guide rail rearwardly of the intermediateportion and lying in a plane generally parallel to the plane of thefront portion, a support member having a lateral bore secured to therear of a drawer, a shaft positioned within each bore, the shaft beinglonger than the bore and laterally movable therein, a guide secured toone end of each shaft and adapted to be positioned within the respectivechannels on the guide rails and to be longitudinally movable therein, aspring secured to each shaft whereby each guide is laterally andresiliently movable to a position behind the drawer and within theconfines of its width, the spring normally urging the guides outwardlyagainst the guide rails.

5. A sliding drawer construction in accordance with claim 3 and alaterally adjustable support guide movably attached to each guide railat its front end.

6. A sliding drawer assembly comprising a pair of opposed guide railssecured to a cabinet frame each having a longitudinal channel, a frontportion in each guide rail, an integral intermediate portion on eachguide rail rearwardly of the front portion and lying in a planediverging from the plane of the intermediate portion of the oppositeguide rail, an integral side portion on each guide rail extendinggenerally rearwardly from the intermediate portion, a guide adapted tobe movably positioned within each channel, means for securing the guidesto a drawer, and resilient means normally urging the guides outwardlyagainst the guide rails.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,385,811 Bodenstein July 26-, 1921 1,798,875 Geimer Mar. 31, 19312,550,980 Drake May 1, 1951

